Semi Naked Orange Cake

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Semi Naked Orange Cake, this magnificent cake is sure to delight the senses and satisfy the tastebuds. Imagine the bright, citrusy flavor of the oranges mixed with the creamy, lightly sweetened cream cheese frosting — it’s the perfect combination!

With its fluffy layers of mouth-watering cake and creamy orange icing, this cake will have everyone asking for seconds.

A cake with a slice taken out of it.

If you like cake, you’ll also enjoy these

Semi Naked Orange Cake

Nothing says celebration quite like a luscious orange layer cake with cream cheese frosting. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, a holiday, or just the joy of life, this cake will make your celebration something special. Also, try this delicious Lemon Olive Oil Cake.

With these step-by-step instructions and helpful information, you’ll be ready to make an orange layer cake with cream cheese frosting that will be the highlight of any celebration.

Ingredients for a carrot cake on a marble table.
Semi Naked Orange Cake. A mixing bowl with eggs, flour and sugar.
Semi Naked Orange Cake. Three pans filled with cake batter on a marble countertop.
A bowl with a bowl of milk and a bowl of carrots.
A bowl with whipped cream and carrots in it.
Semi Naked Orange Cake. A cake on a cooling rack with whipped cream on top.
A white cake sitting on a cooling rack.
Semi Naked Orange Cake. A pie with orange slices and mint on a plate.

Ingredients you’ll need

The full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions is at the bottom of this post. You can save a tree and save the recipe to your personal and private recipe box right here on Call Me PMc. This way you’ll never misplace it.

  • All-purpose flour
  • Baking powder
  • eggs
  • Unsalted butter melted
  • Sugar
  • Buttermilk
  • Pure vanilla extract
  • Orange extract
  • Orange zest
  • Orange gel food coloring optional
  • Butter, unsalted and softened
  • Cream cheese softened
  • PPowdered sugar sifted first then measured
  • Orange zest
  • Fresh orange juice
A carrot cake with a slice taken out of it.

This frosting recipe is enough for a fully frosted cake. Therefore, you can frost the cake completely for a traditional cake. As well, you can frost it thinly for what is called a naked cake or semi-naked cake. For a naked cake, you’ll do a “crumb coat” on the outside of the cake. 

You can half the recipe if you prefer. I tend to make the whole recipe and store the excess for sweet rolls, etc.

Here is some tips on making a naked cake.

A cake with a slice taken out of it.

Semi Naked Orange Cake

A light and fresh homemade layer cake with a crumb coat of orange buttercream frosting.
Author: Paula
5 from 46 votes
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 14 servings

Ingredients

Cake

  • 4 cups flour
  • 3 teaspoons Baking powder
  • 4 large eggs
  • ½ cups unsalted butter melted
  • 4 cups sugar
  • 2 cups Buttermilk
  • 2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons orange extract
  • 4 tablespoons orange zest
  • 3-5 drops orange gel food coloring optional

Frosting

  • 1 cup butter softened
  • 8 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 4 cups powdered sugar sifted first then measured
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest
  • 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice

Instructions

Cake

  • Preheat oven to 350℉ and spray three 9-inch round baking pans
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk the flour and baking powder.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter, and sugar until fluffy. Add in the eggs and beat. Stop the mixer and scrape the bowl.
  • Add the buttermilk, vanilla, orange, and orange zest mix until combined.
  • Gradually add the flour mixture and mix until combined. Add the orange food coloring.
  • Divide the batter between the three pans. Bake for 23 to 27 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Allow the cakes to cool completely. Cut the dome on top of the cake (if desired. This makes a flat surface and a more professional-looking cake, but you don't have to.)

Frosting

  • In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy about 3 to 4 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl halfway through mixing.
  • Add the powdered sugar, orange zest, and orange juice and mix until smooth. Once the cake has cooled, frost the cake with orange cream cheese frosting.

Build the cake

  • Place one cake layer on a serving platter.
  • Spread 1 cup of frosting over top, then top with the second cake layer, pressing lightly down.
  • Spread 1 cup of frosting evenly over the top
  • Repeat the steps with the remaining cake layers.
  • Using an offset spatula or cake smoother, smooth the frosting on the sides of the cake.
  • Place in the fridge until ready to serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 762kcal | Protein: 8g | Fat: 28g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Potassium: 229mg | Fiber: 1g | Vitamin A: 972IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 116mg | Iron: 2mg
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